Religious leaders oppose use of force against militants
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LAHORE: The heads of about 30 religious parties and groups have opposed the use of force against militants in case the ongoing peace talks between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan end in failure.
The demand came in the wake of perception that a military operation would be the ultimate choice if the government and the Taliban failed to reach an agreement.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and other mainstream leaders have agreed to give peace a chance before considering the option of an operation to flush out militants, especially from North Waziristan.
But the clerics, in a meeting chaired by the chief of the Taliban’s negotiating committee, Maulana Samiul Haq, unanimously opposed launching a military operation against the Taliban in case there was no breakthrough in the talks between the government and TTP teams. “The government must not use force in case the peace talks fail. Ceasefire is a prerequisite to the success of the talks,” Maulana Haq said while reading a joint statement after the Ulema and Mashaikh convention on the peace talks.
He said the big powers had witnessed the outcome of the war in Afghanistan. “A military operation will only lead the country to further destruction.”
The statement says: “The Ulema belonging to all schools of thought fully support the peace dialogue between the government and the Taliban and appeal to both parties to observe restraint and let peace prevail. “Military operation may lead to endless bloodshed in the country and also threaten its existence.”
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Comments (59) Closed
Feb 16, 2014 08:36am
We give our vote to the parliamentarians to make decisions , but they instead of making one asks the ones who are rejected by the masses. Is this democracy?
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Feb 16, 2014 09:01am
And what should the Taliban do in return? They keep on killing and threatening innocent people, security personnel and the minorities. Great logic by our religious leaders.
By the way this body did not represent ulama from all schools of thought.
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Feb 16, 2014 09:27am
Sorry Mr. Haq. If we go for a military operation, we will destroy all madrassah's, we will pass a law that anyone supporting terrorist will be treated as a terrorist and will be executed. Under this new law, you too will be executed. That should be your your real fear, not North Waziristan!
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Feb 16, 2014 09:32am
These are the enemy of Pakistan. They need to be shot on sight. These enemy of Pakistan has held 130 million Pakistani hostage. Shame on Pakistani who support them
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Feb 16, 2014 09:34am
If Government of Pakistan has no option but to take military action, it is important that the Government must plan to round up all The heads of about 30 religious parties and groups who have opposed the use of force against militants in case the ongoing peace talks between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan end in failure. It is a question of survival of 180 million Pakistanis not a bunch of terrorists and their supporters. Law and order must be maintained in Pakistan regardless of who likes it or not.
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Feb 16, 2014 09:38am
What else one expect them to say, They are representing the Taliban or should I say, they are the Taliban.
Operation and only operation would bring peace to Pakistan. These extremist/terrorist are like a cancer and must be operated upon and cut off.
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Feb 16, 2014 10:55am
Until the militants renounce violence and surrender their arms there can be no meaningful dialogue.
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Feb 16, 2014 11:24am
When will these respectable maulanas / our religious 'leaders' be able to convey the message to their brothers known as Talibans that there is no place for terrorism in our religion Islam. And other religious groups are free to practice their religions as per the teachings of Islam and constitution of Pakistan. If Taliban don't stop terrorism, an all out war should be waged on them until the last terrorist is alive. Enough is enough!!!
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Feb 16, 2014 11:27am
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Feb 16, 2014 11:41am
So the so called 'religious' parties do not want Pakistan to take action against hardened enemies of the state even if the negotiations fail. Hmmm......so I guess we may as well give the terrorists a license to kill, mail and blow up anything and anyone they want.
Or.....perhaps we just consider these 'religious' parties the same as enemy combatants in TTP and deal with them all, in the manner that terrorists should be dealt with, without mercy and without trial!
It is Pakistan that we want to save, not some RAW trained & funded terrorists who may have been born here but forward the sinister agenda of our enemies!! After the US forces withdraw and virtually hand over Afghanistan to Mullah Muhammar Omer, the freedom fighters and Jihadists, will be free to rid Afghanistan of Indian plans and Indian administered TTP while Pakistan Army should do the same with not only TTP but all their sympathisers and all those who issue veiled threats against the people & state of Pakistan!
When push comes to shove, Pakistanis will stand united behind their military to ensure that Pakistan prevails.
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Feb 16, 2014 11:56am
well tell that to the Taliban who continue their terrorist activities while negotiations are taking place.
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Feb 16, 2014 12:23pm
if the peace talks fail then what is the assurance from TTP that they will not start attacks on civilians?
yet they already targetted Police last week...
If we declare there wont be any use of force then the demands of TTP in this peace talks would get more crazier...
Mullas and all other 50 parties have their chance to negotiate and do their best while Pakistan prepares itself for the fight!
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Feb 16, 2014 12:29pm
Govt should not use force but the militants continue killing anybody anywhere. That is the justice these religious heads believe. In between, who is dying?
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Feb 16, 2014 12:34pm
Bravo! Taleban kills innocents every day, but the gutless clergy and government are twiddling their thumbs. They don't want action against terrorists. Makes a lot of sense . Doesn't it.
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Feb 16, 2014 01:41pm
And when will these "religious" leaders oppose the Taliban's use of force?
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Feb 16, 2014 01:59pm
Strange! So they(Taliban) are free to do what ever they want. Why this mullah not telling his sons to stop killing innocents?
These mullahs should be accountable for protecting the enemies of Pakistan.
PM Nawaz Sharif should do something urgently to shop these religious fanatics.
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Feb 16, 2014 02:06pm
then what do religious parties want?they want we surrender before them and let them drive us like flock of sheep in the way they want.let them kidnap us,rob us,kill us,blast our properties,but we should not resist because we are slaves and slaves don't have such kind of rights.mr.sami let me tell you we are independent,we will fight,will fight with you and your these brothers till bitter end!
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Feb 16, 2014 03:40pm
It clearly shows that who are the "terrorists"?
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Feb 16, 2014 03:46pm
All those, who do not like force to be used against the barbarian and plain ignorants deprived of any sense of decency, to tell the victims of the atrocities, what price is their lives and well being? They live in well protected enclosure ,who is their to protect the citizenry ? Are the above the law ?
Are they going to be covered by general amnesty ?
There will not be any guarantee of peace after they get their fellow criminals released as it happened before.
Sad spineless government !
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Feb 16, 2014 03:48pm
because these religious leaders are in love with jehad of taliban.....
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Feb 16, 2014 03:49pm
operation is only solution.....at last it will take place....
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Feb 16, 2014 04:09pm
What a illogical, biased and heartless demand. Why can't these mullah think about the innocent people killed by these cruel taliban. Why they don't care about innocent victims families?? Why these clerics are so much love these anti-Paksitan and anti Islam elements? Why??
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Feb 16, 2014 04:20pm
folks try to understand. The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong. Unless they know what is right. Nothing will ever change. Are right and wrong convertible terms, dependent upon popular opinion? The popular option is to be safe.. cos they all are scared and no one wants to die for the cause
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Feb 16, 2014 04:20pm
It was a huge opportunity missed by USA to drone the whole Mullah gathering and rid Pk of this menace.
They so called Mullah have held PK behind in every possible league in the world because of their own vested interests.
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Feb 16, 2014 05:06pm
The govt should try its best to pursue a peaceful settlement with the Taliban But if the talk fails then the only alternative should be decimation of Taliban & their supporters including the current bunch of sympathizers. Zero Tolerance should be set on course. It is the duty of the govt to protect the lives & properties of peoples who are being massacred by the taliban on daily basis
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Feb 16, 2014 05:52pm
Sorry, Military operation will take place simply because the Army follows instructions from Washington and USA do not want peace in the region.
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Feb 16, 2014 05:56pm
When Pakistanis will get the courage to embrace reasoning,honesty and discipline,and give up tribalism,nepotism,corruption and religious fanaticism,only then can they get rid of terrorist culture from their society.
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Feb 16, 2014 07:22pm
These so called religious leaders and Maulanas are greater menace to Pakistan and its people than Taliban. They weaken our resolve to fight against terrorism from within while pretending to be well wishers of Pakistan. So let me understand this;their client TPT is free to mass murder the poor innocent citizens of Pakistan including children and women but they don't want that Pakistan should enforce its laws and protect its citizens from this violence.
The so called Maulanas and TPT are two side of the same coin. One attacks openly, other softens the target from within. When will media stop bestowing respect upon them by calling calling them Maulana, Ulema, etc.
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Feb 16, 2014 07:37pm
It is the duty of the state and its forces to maintain the writ of government and the rule of law.It should be decided by the parliament what the next step should be and not these religious leaders.
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Feb 16, 2014 07:53pm
@Ashar:
Pakistan needs an Attaturk, who will get rid of the mullah menace, once and for all.
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Feb 16, 2014 07:59pm
What kind of logic it is.
Talks succeed or Fail, No operation to be carried out. And the Taliban will carry on their daily spree of Murder without even a pause. These mullahs dont even have a word of condemnation for these barbarians, clealy shows on which side they stand.
For any sane place in the world, this is nothing but treason.
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Feb 16, 2014 08:08pm
@Mustafa:
I agree 100% what they are asking for is surrender or peace at their terms
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Feb 16, 2014 08:35pm
@Shaikh Mohommd:
Shaikh, military operation will take place because TTP and Its gang along with the brave Samiul haq have not honored their agreement to ceasefire.
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Feb 16, 2014 08:58pm
"Same school of thought ", what about others who are daily victims of that school of thought , are they not Pakistani citizens ?
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Feb 16, 2014 09:26pm
Why are the negotiators telling the Pakistani government not to use force, as and when the terrorists keep killing innocents people again and again?
Is the government sure it is talking with people who control those terrorists, or, something else is happening?
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Feb 16, 2014 09:32pm
Then hang these Mullahs instead and peace will prevail...
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Feb 17, 2014 12:02am
The PAK Govt should seek the help of India to combat terrorism as India has world's best security forces and Commandos especially trained to fight terrorists .I have little hope on PAK army that they can do any thing
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Feb 17, 2014 02:35am
@ Sheik Mohommd. I am sorry to say that you even do not know how to spell Mohammad and it is difficult for you to know that Islam is the second largest religion in America and it is rapidly increasing by leaps and bonds. It is Allah who makes any nation strong. Pakistan have intelligent people to decide what is best for Pakistan. It is an insult to Pakistani Army to say that the Army follows instructions from Washington.
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Feb 17, 2014 11:49am
@Youth: "Zero Tolerance should be set on course."
Good for you. Get ready then...for 'Zero Tolerance' to knock on your door.
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Feb 17, 2014 11:52am
@Ashar: "RAW trained & funded terrorists who may have been born here but forward the sinister agenda of our enemies"
That would be your PM and COAS, among others.
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Feb 17, 2014 11:52am
@SYEDA SARA BATOOL:
In your home.
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Feb 17, 2014 11:55am
@SYEDA SARA BATOOL:
...and you are in love with Bollywood.
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Feb 17, 2014 12:00pm
@khanm:
"no one wants to die for the cause
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Feb 17, 2014 04:38pm
These so called religious leaders should be sent back to Waziristan to spend their remaining life with their brothren and all like minded / supporters of Taliban whether in politics and journalism should also be sent to Waziristan so that they can enjoy their sharia in its natural environment
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Feb 17, 2014 07:49pm
@Mohammad Ali Khan:
Never as long as we continue to elect Sharifs and Bhuttos. Need a revolution from top go bottom
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Feb 17, 2014 08:55pm
These so called religious leaders are opposed to force being used against the militants?. What a wonderful statement. Are they not opposed to militants using force against the unarmed Pakistani children, women and men?. All these supporters of terrorists in the picture, should be rounded up and tried for treason. Why is a nuclear power scared of these people?.
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Feb 17, 2014 09:23pm
"Religious leaders oppose use of force against militants''.
Because they don't want their children get hurt.
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Feb 18, 2014 12:52am
They only oppose the use of force against the militants while the militants carry out a bloodbath of innocent people including women and children!!! What's wrong with these so called religious leaders? Do they have a religion or just a philosophy that asks for more blood? They are leaders of whom? If it continues the way they want, soon there will be no one left to lead; they'll be reduced to leaders with no followers just leading themselves to a place of utter darkness. Followers of these leaders, please ask God for mercy by the tons and maybe He will send deliverance and relief. And that is also my prayer for the people of Pakistan from the depth of my heart.
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Feb 18, 2014 06:25am
@muhammad: take away their cell phones and electricity, cable and tv. and give their women the right to vote
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Feb 18, 2014 09:31am
@gola:
India is behind TTP and is indirectly arming it thru Karzai and Iran
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Feb 18, 2014 09:37am
@Shaikh Mohommd:
the whole world is against terrorists, Pakistan army is made of brave people who sadly have to defend you too. You are a disgrace to decent humans.
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Feb 18, 2014 10:06am
Military operation. Get done with these people once for all. Justice delayed is justice denied.
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Feb 18, 2014 11:13am
Members of the group, directly or indirectly, are not effected by the barbarians act of TTP, otherwise they have not opposed the use of force .May be, they hope to get some share in power, if God forbid, the TTP get control, because the prominent among them did not got any chance aft Zia regime.
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Feb 18, 2014 01:14pm
these so called mullahs are the worst cancer Pakistan ever had, bunch of gutless hypocrites, they can all go to hell, them and the scumbags who follow them. what a waste of space they are on earth. no wonder the deepest pits of hell were reserved for these people.
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Feb 18, 2014 07:36pm
Religious leaders oppose to use force against militants, because they hope to hold portfolios when Taliban come to power.
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Feb 18, 2014 07:47pm
@Farhan:
Ah, but the use of drones at this moment would have deflected opinion from the real culprits, the Taliban and their backers. It is clear the Taliban have no interest in peace on any terms but their own. Time to bomb them to oblivion.
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Feb 18, 2014 11:09pm
@Shaikh Mohommd:
Why don't you Indians start using your real name to make debate much more meaningful. Trust me Dawn is very progressive media unlike your country's media outlet who cannot tolerate any anti- India truth.
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Feb 19, 2014 10:23am
@christopher:
"give their women the right to vote"
In Islam women are created equal, independent, their own masters. They don't belong to men. They are not "their women". They were not created from Man's rib but separate, independent. Equal but different from men.
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Feb 19, 2014 02:51pm
these old guys have no clue what is going on. They are literally the blind leading the blind. They have shown they have no allegiance to Quaid-e-azams Pakistan, but they continue to enjoy its protections and fruits.
If the TTP do not submit to the state, the state must take back North Waziristan and subdue it. We should make an example of this backward bearded lot for starters.
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